Fity Cent Pick 4 at Del Mar with Marc Doche: Just Another Thursday

Shadow of Illinois returns to the Del Mar turf course, where he battled champion California Flag two years ago.

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Bombs away Wednesday led to over $10,000 being paid out for yesterday’s Fity Cent Pick 4, even though the favorite scored in the last race of the day.

The 10-year-old warrior Shadow of Illinois is the morning line favorite in today’s featured race, an optional claiming event sprinting five furlongs on turf for a purse of $54,000. With an abundance of speed lined up to his inside, the race could set up perfectly for him to win from off the pace for trainer Anthony Saavedra.

We’re off to the races!

Leg 1 Race 5 (TBD) -The first two-turn affair on the grass for two-year-old maiden fillies is wide open. None of these fillies have tried two turns, and only a couple have tried the grass, so we’re inclined to use all eight. However, we have the luxury of taking a look at these ladies in the paddock and warm-up before they run, since this is the first leg of the sequence, so I’ll post the final picks approximately five minutes before the race on Twitter and in the TVG Community.

No. 2 Thomas Baines, is your likely favorite off an impressive three-length score here a month ago. He’s a logical choice to win from off the pace again for Rafael Bejarano.

No. 4 Mesa Thunder, defeated older horses in his last race at Hollywood Park in a dead heat. He has the tactical speed to sit off likely pace-setter No. 7 Canthavehim and get first run on Thomas Baines for new pilot Joel Rosario.

Leg 3 Race 7 (4,7,9) - Along with using the aforementioned Shadow of Illinois, we’ll also use No. 4, Connagher, who has won his last two and the son of In Excess tries turf for the first time, and No. 7, Reagan Republican, who has finished first or second in six of eight lifetime starts and also tries turf for the first time.

Leg 4 Race 8 (1,3,4,11,12) - More two-year-old maiden fillies, this time sprinting five and a half furlongs for a $32,000 tag.

No. 1 Brazzle Dazzle, drops out of maiden special weight company for her third career start and can make an impact with a clean break from the inside.

No. 3 Dear Maria, has worked well in the morning, and her sire, Chapel Royal, won his debut. She should offer good value coming from connections that aren't known to win early.

No. 4 Sweet Consolidator, also makes her third career start, and the move to the claiming ranks last time made her much more competitive.

No. 11 Lake Believe, has a second and third place finish in two career starts and is a logical contender to take the next step into the winner’s circle today.

No. 12 Banana Cream Pie, debuts with a consistent work tab for trainer John Sadler, who has been lights out with debuting maiden claimers this meet.